In a span of three minutes at the start of his session with reporters Wednesday, Rutgers junior linebacker Kevin Snyder was asked about the loss of Khaseem Greene three times. Another handful of mentions made note of the hole that the two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year leaves behind, without calling Greene out by name. That Greene’s presence still looms is apparent, and it will be on Snyder to take over Greene’s spot in a talented but largely unproven defense.

Snyder embodies the unit that Rutgers has depended on in recent seasons. He is inexperienced but talented, having earned playing time in each of his first two seasons but having only started one game up to this point. Coming into training camp, he will be the projected starting weakside linebacker, with redshirt freshman Steve Longa in the middle and Jamal Merrell on the strong side.

"We’ve got a young, talented defense that’s going to be tested early," Rutgers coach Kyle Flood said on SiriusXM radio this week. "Certainly in the secondary, where we’ve got three new starters. But it’s been fun to be around them and I think they’re up to the challenge."

That is the prevailing thought for Rutgers. There is an optimism that the team is talented enough to overcome the losses from last year’s group and have enough to restock right away.

The Scarlet Knights saw five defensive players get drafted into the NFL in April and the team lost seven starters in total. None of the departed players had more acclaim than Greene, and that is Snyder’s burden.

"Obviously, he did great things here," Snyder said. "But as a defense as a whole this year we can fill those shoes — everybody together. You’re not just going to replace one guy like that. I think we have just enough talent to do exactly what we did last year and maybe do better."

Snyder does note that there is a noticeable change without upperclassmen like Steve Beauharnais and Brandon Jones, who, he said, had the ability to calm and to motivate. Those leadership roles are also being filled by Merrell and junior safety Lorenzo Waters.

Longa, who made the transition to middle linebacker just this spring, is adapting to the role, Snyder said.

"From the way he mentally approaches the game, (there are) just incremental improvements every day," Snyder said. "He’s really starting to become comfortable with calling defenses."

And Snyder himself is advancing. He has added 30 pounds since coming to Rutgers (he’s 6-3, 235), yet has maintained his speed. And he believes he is at his best as a weakside linebacker.

"Our linebacker corps, we’re coming along," Snyder said.

Then there is the change in leadership on the defense with Dave Cohen now serving as its coordinator, after spending last season as the linebackers coach. For Snyder, Cohen serving as coordinator seems like a continuation of the status quo.

If there is any change made by Cohen, it is a philosophical tweak, Snyder said. The defense now has a new imperative, Snyder says: Don’t worry about the scheme, just make plays.